This is the moment a pair of terrified Arctic foxes flee massive Russian nuclear powered icebreaker as it bears down on them in a frozen river.

The footage was shot by a crew member on board the Ural, a massive icebreaker built by the Baltic shipyard in St Petersburg, whcih began active service last year.

As the foxes pad over the frozen surface of the Yenisey – which flows from Mongolia down to the Kara Sea and the Arctic Ocean – the Ural looms into view.

One fox sprints off immediately, leading a trail of footprints in the fresh snow in the shadow of the 37-tonne monster.

The second seems to be trying to outrun the Ural as it sprints ahead of the vessel, which can smash its way through 10ft of ice.

The ship grows ever closer as the fox dodges and weaves on the ice before suddenly shooting off to the side to follow its pal.

The foxes are understood to be a breeding pair.

The Arctic Foxes (Vulpes lagopus) had apparently been exploring their Arctic tundra home when the massive icebreaker started bearing down on them.

A spokesman for Atomflot – which maintains the icebreaker- said the ship had spotted the fixed and turned on its lights so the foxes could find their way out.

The video – shot by senior assistant to the captain Nikita Boev – was shared on the firm’s official Telegram channel.

The ship was built as part of the Project 22220 to create a series of nuclear powered icebreakers.

So far, three have been delivered, with another four almost completed or under construction.